Another Key Fob Fix

[Fixxxer]

Another Key Fob Fix

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[EDIT: 2015/04/01] I've added a second 'fix' below this one. Check them both out and choose the one you'd like to try. My 2004 996 Targa key fob started acting up recently. It got to the point where I could press any of the three buttons and the LED would light up, but the car wouldn't respond. Sometimes when I would give the key a good whack on my palm it would work properly for a second, but then stop. Since the key's LED would light up with any button press, I knew that the buttons themselve

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• Author
  Fixxxer
• Category
  Carrera (996) - Common Fixes and Repairs
• Submitted
  04/17/2014 02:24 PM
• Updated
  04/01/2015 05:29 PM

 

[Rob357]

I tried this with a spare original Porsche key Fob i got when i purchased my 911, seller said he tried changing batteries and nothing. So yesterday with nothing to do i decided to tackle this item. Did exactly as you had written in your instructions and it works. Thanks for your suggestion.

Rob

Edited May 15, 2014 by Rob357

[IRA_Engunere]

I recently purchased a one-owner (making it a two-owner) 2004 996 C2S Coupe. It came with two 2-button key fobs (one working and one non-working) and a valet key.

 

Per other posts on this topic, I took both fobs to the local auto parts store and tried them out on the remote tester. The tester responded to the working fob (good to know) but not to the non-working fob.

 

I followed the solder reflow directions in the referenced post. Then I took the reflowed fob to the parts store and sure enough it is now transmitting. So the reflow process works - thanks for the great post!  However, the car still does not respond to the reflowed and now transmitting key fob.

 

I've tried everything I can find to reconnect this remote to the car myself, including: pressing the button while the key is in the door lock, pressing the button while the key is in the ignition, variations of both of the proceeding, and reversing the battery to reset the key fob code count.

 

Short of going to the dealer, are there any other procedures I can try to reconnect this key fob remote to the car?

 

Thanks in advance,

Jerry

Edited February 22, 2016 by IRA_Engunere

[Loren]

I recently purchased a one-owner (making it a two-owner) 2004 996 C2S Coupe. It came with two 2-button key fobs (one working and one non-working) and a valet key.

 

Per other posts on this topic, I took both fobs to the local auto parts store and tried them out on the remote tester. The tester responded to the working fob (good to know) but not to the non-working fob.

 

I followed the solder reflow directions in the referneced post. Then I took the reflowed fob to the parts store and sure enough it is now transmitting. So the reflow process works - thanks for the great post!  However, the car still does not respond to the reflowed and now transmitting key fob.

 

I've tried everything I can find to reconnect this remote to the car myself, including: pressing the button while the key is in the door lock, pressing the button while the key is in the ingnition, variations of both of the preceeding, and reversing the battery to reset the key fob code count.

 

Short of going to the delaer, are there any other procedures I can try to reconnect this key fob remote to the car?

 

Thanks in advance,

Jerry

 

If you switch the transponder (pill) from one key to the other does it follow the good transponder?

 

If it does then you will likely need to try a re-program of that key with the bad transponder code. If that does not work then buy a new design key and have it programmed to your car.

[IRA_Engunere]

The RFID transponder "pill" looked fragile, so I swapped boards between the working and reflowed fobs.  I repeated the various reset procedures but the reflowed board still did not unlock the car.  While the good board was out of the fob, I was able to lock and unlock the car while it was 20+ feet away from the transponder "pill", so it doesn't seem that the remote board and RFID transponder interact once the remote is paired to the car.

 

Thanks for the suggestion; now I feel I've tried everything I could. I'll order a new key fob and take both the new fob and the reflowed fob to the dealer for programming. (BTW, I found a code tag in the owner's manual so hopefully it matches the reflowed key fob).

 

Thanks again! 

[Fixxxer]

FYI - I just added a second, more precise method to the original tutorial above.  It should appear as soon as the Admins approve it.  :)

[dan189]

Hey guys quick question, my car came with 2 key fobs one working the other is missing the internal circuit board but has the pill inside of it. Is the programming done on the board and the pill or just the pill? Can I buy another board provided it's the correct mhz?

Thanks

[RFM]

It is the vehicle which is programmed to the key fob, not the key fob to the vehicle.

[IRA_Engunere]

Does you car start with the "pill" only key?

 

My guess is the the "pill" contains the RFID needed to start the car and the board contains the transmitter for the remote control functions (door and boot locks). Both need to be programmed into the car's DME.

 

The PET does not show a replacement board, only the replacement key head. Not sure about aftermarket boards. No way to know if a used board will be functional or programmable.

 

My suggestion is buy an OEM replacement key head from a discount (online) Porsche dealer or parts house then take the new key head and the old key to your local dealer for programming.

[Youri Ko]

Question - I only have ONE key fob that car starts with, but the fob does not wor,, lights blink but nothing happens on the car's side.

 

Plan was to go the dealer for new fob + plus programming (around 450CDN)

I'm tempted to try the fix but would like to know, in case I mess up the circtuit board, what are my chances to be stuck with a non starting car and have it towed to the dealership?

 

Thanks

[Loren]

Buy the Sport Design key for about $150 (US) and then transfer your transponder pill and blade to the new head.

No programming needed - if it works now then it will work after the head replacement.

[dan189]

Excellent news, I'll try and get a circuit from somewhere as I've already got everything apart from that.